Uptick in grandparent scams hits seniors in Hope: RCMP
Published 9:11 am Friday, May 29, 2026
RCMP in Hope are warning seniors and others to beware of grandparent scams following a recent increase in cases.
Also known as emergency scams, this fraud happens when the victim gets a phone call stating a loved one is in legal trouble and gets tricked into paying a large sum of money that the fraudster claims will be used to pay bail.
“There have been several recent cases in the Hope area where a caller claimed that the victim’s loved one had been in a recent car accident and a pregnant woman had been injured,” Cpl. Carmen Kiener, media spokesperson for the Upper Fraser Valley Regional Detachment, stated in a May 29 press release.
The caller explained they needed money which could be picked up at the victim’s home, or mailed by courier.
No one has been arrested in these cases, although the investigations are ongoing, Kiener added.
“This is a recurring scam that has been going on for many years. It is important for everyone to discuss these types of scams with their loved ones, especially seniors who are far too often the target of these types of frauds.”
RCMP added these tips:
- If you or someone you know has been scammed, report it to your local detachment
- If you are unsure whether the person you are speaking with on the phone is a real police officer, hang up and call you local police detachment directly
- Canadian government agencies such as police or agencies related to the court system, will never phone individuals to demand cash or any other form of payment. If this request is demanded of you, know it is likely a scam
Attempted scams where no money was lost can be reported to the Canadian Anti-fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 as well.
For more information about this and other frauds, visit antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca.
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